Vehicle-pole



(No Model.) Q C. BRADLEY.

VEHICLE POLE.

Patented Aug. 8. 1882.

NrrnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER C. BRADLEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-POLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,362, dated August8, 1882.

Application filed June 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER G. BRAD- LEY, of Syracuse, in the countyof Onondaga and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-Poles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a novel construction of a pole or tongue forvehicles and agricultural machinery, such as harvesters, mowers, andrakes.

The poles or tongues now generally employed in such machines are madeot' a single piece of suitable wood, and are procured with greatdifficulty, owing to the large demand for such poles and the limitedsupply ot' material suitable for the manufacture of the same.

The object of my invention is the construction ot' a pole of severalpieces, whereby strips or pieces of Wood can be utilized in themanufacture of poles which are not now used for such purposes, and whichcan be procured in large quantities at comparatively small expense.

My invention consists to that end of a pole or tongue composed of twostrips of wood runnin glen gthwise of the pole, and secured together bysuitable stay-pieces and fastening-bolts, the whole forming a light,strong, and rigid pole.

My invention also consistsot the particular construction of thestay-pieces which are iuterposed between the longitudinal strips of thepole, and also of a serrated or ribbed block secured between thelongitudinal strips of the pole for preventing the strips from changingtheir position; also, of a clamping-hook, which is applied to the frontportion of the pole for attaching the neck-yoke, and which serves at thesame time to hold the longitudinal strips ot' the pole together, as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of myimproved pole. Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4 arevertical cross-sections in lines :v x and y y, Fig. 1, respectively.Fig. 5 is a side elevation, Fig. 6 a top plan view, and Fig. 7 across-section, ot' the metallic block interposed between thelongitudinal strips of the pole for the purpose of preventing the samefrom changing their relative position. Fig. S'is a side elevation oftheclamping-hook applied to the front portion ofthe pole, and Fig. 9 is al'ront elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, showing amodified construction ofthe pole.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the longitudinal strips ofthe pole, arranged respectivelyon the upper and lower sides thereof'.

B represents a strip, bar, or block of wood secured between the rearends ofthe strips A A. The latter and the block B form together the rearend ofthe pole, which has the proper form to insert it in the socketwith which the vehicle or machine is provided for the reception ofthepole.

C represents a vertical rib of Iish shapethat is,higher at the middlethan atitsendsand interposed centrally between the lon gitudinal stripsA A', to which it is secured by screw-bolts c. The longitudinal strips AA' are sprung apart or curved by the rib C near the middle ot' the pole,and approach each other toward the frontend of the pole, at which theyare in contact with each other, as clearly represented in Fig. l.

D represents a block, of cast-iron or other suitable metal, securedbetween the longitudinal strips A A', preferably near the point wherethe strips come in contact with each other. The block D is provided onits upper and lower sides with ribs, serrations, or corrugations d,which embed themselves into the adjacent portions ot' the strips A A',thereby rmly securing the latter against longitudinal displacement, sothat when the pole is bent or sprung the block D will resist thetendency ofthe strips A A' to move backward and forward with referenceto each other, and retain such strips in their proper relative positionunder all circumstances. As shownin the drawings,the block D is composedof two plates, e e, made slightly converging, to correspond with theposition of the strips A A', and connected by a vertical web or plate,F, arranged lengthwise and centrally between the plates e c, andconnecting at each end with upright cylindrical bosses Gr, which areprovided with holes H, through which the screw-bolts t' pass, wherebythe block D is secured between the strips A A'.

K represents the hook which is applied to the front portion of the polefor receiving,T the neck-yoke. This hook is constructed with a loop, L,which surrounds the front portion of the pole, and which is divided atits lower end and provided at its divided end with two ears, l,projecting below the pole. A screw-bolt, m, passes through the ears Zand connects the ends ot' the divided loop. The hook and loop are castin one piece, of malleable iron, or constructed ofother suitable metalwhich possesses the requisite degree of elasticity. Upon loosening thebolt m the loop and hook can be 'adjusted backward and forward on thepole to coliform its position to the length of the draf't animalsemployed, and by tightening the bolt m the loop L firmly clasps the twostrips A A' together and serves as an additional fastening device.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 10 the vertical web O,between the strips A A', is replaced by cylindrical stay-pieces orcollars o, which surround the fastening-bolts c, and which retain thestrips A A' at the proper distance apart.

The largest pieces of wood employed in the construction ot' my improvedpole are the longitudinal strips A A', which extend from end to end otthe pole; but these strips are comparatively thin, and are easilyprocured at a moderate expense.

The pole constructed as herein described is very light, strong, anddurable, it is very serviceable for the purpose for which it isintended, and produced at less cost than a pole made of a single piece.

I claim as my inventionl. As a new article of manufacture, a vehiclepoleconstructed of longitudinal strips A A' and intermediate stay-pieces orblocks, all secured together by suitable fastening devices,substantially as set forth.

2. In a vehicle-pole, the combination, with longitudinal strips A A', ofa vertical rib or plate, C, interposed between the distended portions ofthe strips A A', and a block, B, interposed between the rear portionsof' the strips A A', substantially as set forth.

3. In a vehicle-pole, the combination, with the longitudinal strips AA', of a block, I),secured between said strips, and provided withserrations or ribs d, whereby the strips are held in their properrelative position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a vehicle-pole, of a hook, K, provided with adivided loop, L, having ears l projecting below the pole, and a bolt, m,passing through the ears l, whereby the loop can be adjusted on the polewhen the bolt in is released, and can be contracted and secured to thepole in the desired position by tighteningthe boltm, substantiallyas setforth.

CIIRI STOPHER C. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

XV. G. BRODLEY, ORLANDO C. WEST.

